Expanding chain for wristbands



Sept. 28, 1954 A. PlNsoN EXPANDING CHAIN FOR WRISTBANDS Filed Apri1 2, 1952 MOA-ewa Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Alfred Pinson, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Apex Accessories Co., Inc., Greenwich, Conn.

Application April 2, 1952, Serial No. 280,049

i Claims.

My invention relates to expanding chains for Wrist bands formed of superimposed aligning rows of blocks articulated by spring actuated toggle links and it is a modification of the construction shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,574,576.

The object of the invention is to provide an expanding chain that has the ends of the blocks of the upper rows arranged to follow the contour of the tops of the proximate blocks of the lower row to which they are pivotally connected.

Another object of the invention is to maintain a substantially constant clearance between the proximate top ends of the blocks of the upper row with the proximate surfaces of the tops of the blocks of the lower row within an angular displacement thereof not exceeding 45 between proximate blocks of the upper and lower rows.

In the appended drawing, forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the articulating elements of the chain with parts removed to better illustrate the construction;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2, Figure 3;

Figure 3 is bottom up plan of the chain with a part removed to better illustrate the construction;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the bottom of the lower block; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the cover of the upper block.

Referring to the drawing I is a bottom of th lower block in the shape of a pan having a median platform II with cupped end portions I2 to each side thereof in the longitudinal axis of the pan, the platform and the edges of the cupped portions lying in a common plane. On each side of the pan the platform II has a recessed ear I3 rising above the platform and located in the middle between the ends of the pan, each ear having a tongue I4 in the central part thereof extending inwardly of the pan. See the right end of Figure 2 and Figure 4.

A liner I formed of a rectangularly shaped plate is provided on the opposite edges thereof with a rising inwardly directed elbow I6. Each elbow has a slot Il to engage a corresponding tongue Iti of the ear I3 of the pan and by means of which tongues the liner I5 is clamped onto the platform I I of the pan I. See Figure 2, left and middle parts thereof. The other edges of the liner each having a hinge section I8 straddling` the longitudinal axis of the pan. To increase the rigidity of the liner a central portion I 9 is raised substantially in the middle of the plate.

Connected to each hinged portion I8 of the liner is an L-shaped link 2li. Each link 2u has a straight arm 2| and a curved arm 22, the straight arm carrying the hinge portions 23 which engage the hinge part I8 of the liner and to which it is coupled by a pintle 2li. The straight arm of the link 20 extends out of the cupped portion through a cutout 25 in each end of the pan so that the curved arm Z2 has its concave cylindrical part in proximity of the similarly curved convex portion of the cup, the curvatures of the cup and the arm 22 having a common axis in the pintle 24.

The top or cover 26 of the lower block has cylindrically shaped end section 2l, the curvature of which is of the same radius of curvature as that of the cupped portions l2, the said curved ends 2l of the cover 2B when mounted on the pan form a continuation of the cupped portions and have their axis of curvature therefor in the axis of the pintle 24. Thus the curved arm 22 has the same clearance with the proximate surfaces oi the ends 2l of the cover 25 as it has with the ends of the cupped portions I2 of the pan. The ends 21 have cutouts 28 registering with the cutouts 25 of the cupped ends to permit an angular movement of the link on the pintle 24 of about 45. The ends of the pintle 24 beyond the hinge portions 23 of the straight arm 2| of the link 20 each receiving a helical spring 29 the inner end 30 of said spring engages the underside of the straight arm 2| and the outer end 30 of same as that of the slots I1 of elbow I6.

The end of the curved arm 22 is provided with a hinge-portion 3l, engaged by spaced hinged portions 32 at the edges of a V-shaped liner 33. The sides of the V liner are curved and the curvature of same is substantially that of the curved arm 22 of the link 20. A pin 34 couples the interengaging portions of the proximate curved arm 22 with the side of the V-shaped lliner 33. The curved sides 35 of the V have cutouts 36 to accommodate therein the curved arms 22 of the link 20 engaged therein when the two are folded as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 right side. This takes place when the chain is fully retracted.

A cover 31 provided with sides 38 ts onto the V liner 33 to close the V sides gap and form with Said V liner a block of the upper row. Each end of the cover of the top terminates with a cylindrical section 39 fitting snugly over the hinge that couples a V liner to a proximate link 20. The sides 38 of the cover 3l have tongues IIIJ to lock the cover 31 to truncated base of V liner. The outer area of the cover 31 between the ends is for decorative purposes to suit various designs.

The bottom edges of the sides 4I of the cover 26 engage the edges 42 of the sides of the cupped ends I2 and the platform II thereunder bypassing the ears I3 of the pan on the inner face of said sides 4I. To lock Vthe cover 26 to the liner i5 tongues 43 are provided to clamp the said cover to the pan preferably under the platform near the outer edges thereof.

In assembling a chain, a number of bottom row liners I5 are each assembled with links 2t and springs 29 properly tensioned. Upper row V liners 32 are then connected to the endl of the curved arms 22 of the links 22. Such an assem" bly of the bottom and top liners I5 and 33 respectively under the action of the springs 29 are drawn to a position as best illustrated to the right of Figures l and 2, which brings the curved arms 22 of the links 2t into the recesses 35 in the sides 35 of the V liner 23.

A predetermined length of such a chain assembly, that is to form a wrist band, is then equipped with pans I il by placing under each bottom vliner I5 so, that the tongues I4 of the ears I3 of the pan align with the Corresponding cutout I1 of the ear I6 of the bottom liner I5 mounted on the platform Ii. The tongues I4 are then clamped onto the upper face of the bottom liner l Ei locking the liner to the pan and preventing longitudinal, transversal or upward movements between the two.

When the liner I5 is so locked to the pan I0 the links 2li under the action of the springs 29 will maintain the V liner 33 in the position shown best to the right of Figure 2, by expanding the chain the liner 33 is moved to a position shown at left of Figure 2. The links are moved through an angle of about 45, that is from that shown to the right of Figure 2 to that shown to the left. The expanded position of the chain permits the insertion of the curved ends21 of cover 26 between the proximate curved arms 22 as shown in the middle oi Figure 2. The cover 26 canv then be clamped to the pan by means of the tongues 43 to the pan thus leaving outside onlythe curved arms 22 of the links 20. As it will be noted this arm 22 at the maximum extensionv between the blocks of the lower row does not expose the apertures 2t since these apertures are obstructed by the curved-arms 22 of the links 2i).` To com-plete the assembly all that is necessary is to place a cover 31 onto each V-shaped liner which will `hide the curved arms 22 of the links 2) in the expanded position of the chain, as appears on the left side of Figure 2. In that expanded position of the chain the arms 22 of the links 20 will not be visible from the upper face of the chain and in the retracted position of the chain the curved arms 22 of the link 20 are nested in the cutouts 2t provided in the sides of the V liner, as best shown to the right of Figures l and 2.

The cylindrically formed end sections 39 of the cover 31 that iit snugly over the hinged portions of the V liner with the proximate endsA of the curved arm 22 locks it to the liner, in addition to that of tongues l0 that engage the truncated end of the V liner. ln the angular displacement of the links 20 in the blocks of the lower row the clearance between the transverse edges of the cylindrical sections 39 and the proximate end 21 of the cover 26 remains substantially constant. The connection between the upper and lower blocks through the L shaped links 20 permits a lower block to turn on a pintle 24 when following the contour of a wrist, without any change in the clearance between the said edges 32 of the ends of cover 31 and the curved portion of the proximate end of a cover 26.

The curved arm 22 of the link 2@ and the curved proximate end 21 of the cover 2t being coaxial the end of the curved arm, when the link moves in the aperture 2il,.will follow the curvature of the end 21 of the cover. In consequence the proximate end 39 of the cover 31 of the upper block will follow substantially the same path, it being carried by the said curved arm end. The angular movement of the link 2l) within the aperture is limited by the upper end of the said aperture in the nesting of the curved ends 35 of the upper block with the curved ends 21 of the proximate covers 26 of the lower blocks; this being the normal retracted position of the chain. In the extended position of the chain the lower end of the aperture engages the arm 2l of the link before the upper end of the aperture is exposed when viewed from the top of the chain; this upper end of the aperture being obstructed by the proximate end 3S of -the top 31 of the upper block in addition to the spanning of the aperture by the arm 22 in the extended position of the chain as has been previously stated.

This construction provides smooth upper surfaces at the joints between blocks of the chain and prevents catching by said blocks sleeve ends or other parts of wearing'apparel.

I claim:

l. An expanding chain for wrist bands comprising a pair of superimposed rows of aligning blocks, each block of the lower row having apertured ends, and a spring actuated toggle joint having two i.shaped links housed in said block, each link having one arm thereof passing through the proximate apertured block end, with the end of said arm pivotally anchored to the said lower block, the other arm of each of said links lying outside the proximate apertured lower block end and having its end pivotally connected to the proximate end of the block of the upper row, said other arm and the proximate surfaces of the block ends of the upper and lower rows being curved cylindrically and having a common axis, the curvature of the other of the link and the proximate end of the lower block being coaxial, the ends of theupper blockfconnected to other arm follows the curvature of the proximate end of thel `wer block when the link moves angularly in the corresponding aperture, the angular inovement of the link within the aperture being limited by the nesting of the curved ends of the upper block with the proximate curved ends of the lower blocks and other arm of the links, whic is the normal retracted position of the chain when the link is at the upper end of the corresponding aperture, the link being at the lower end of the aperture before the upper end of said aperture is exposed by the movement of the upper blocks relatively to the lower blocks when the chain is fully extended, so that the apertured ends of the blocks of the lower row being invisible from above the chain in any position of the blocks when the chain is moved from retracted to expanded posin tion, or Vice versa.r

2. An expanding chain for wrist bands comprising a pair of superimposed rows or aligning blocks, yeach block of the lower row having apertured ends, and a spring actuated toggle joint having two L-shaped links housed in said lower block, each link having one arm thereof passing through the proximate apertured block end, with the end of said arm pivotally anchored to the block, the other arm of said link lying outside the said apertured block end and having its end pivotally connected to the proximate end of the block of the upper row, the other arm and the proximate surfaces of the block ends of the upper and lower rows being curved cylindrically, the axes of curvature of said other arm and that of proximate end of block of the lower row lying in the pivot of the link arm within the block of said lower row the angular movement of the links Within the corresponding apertured ends is limited when the chain is retracted by the nesting of the curved ends of the upper blocks with the curved ends of the proximate lower blocks with the corresponding curved arms of the links disposed in close proximity between said curved ends of lower and upper blocks, in expanding the chain the movement of the links being arrested by the engagement of the links with the lower end of the corresponding apertures before the upper end of the aperture is exposed to view from above the chain.

3. An expanding chain for wrist bands comprising a pair of superimposed rows of aligning blocks, each block of the lower row having apertured ends, and a spring actuated toggle joint having two L-shaped links, each link housed in said block having one arm thereof passing through the proximate apertured block end, with the end of said arm pivotally anchored to the block, the other arm of said link lying outside the apertured block end and having its end pivotally connected to the proximate end of the block of the upper row, the other arm and the proximate surfaces of the block ends of the upper and lower rows being curved cylindrically, the axes of curvature of said other link arm and that of proximate surface of the lower block lying in the pivotal axis of the link in the block of the lower row, the axis of the proximate curved surface of the upper block also lying in said pivotal axis when the chain is fully retracted the angular movement of said links in corresponding apertures being limited when the chain is fully extended by the engagement of the links with the lower end of the corresponding apertures before the upper ends of said apertures being exposed by the proximate tops of the upper blocks that follow the curvature of the ends of the lower blocks.

4. An expanding chain for wrist band comprising a pair of superimposed rows of aligning blocks, each block of the lower row having the bottom thereof in the shape of a pan, said pan having a platform between the ends and extending through the width of the pan, said pan also having cupped end portions extending from the platform, said pan having oppositely disposed inwardly recessed ears rising above the platform from the side edges of the pan, each ear having an inwardly extending tongue; a liner mounted on the platform between the ears and adapted to be clamped by said tongues to the platform; spring actuated L-shaped links each having a straight arm the end of which is being pivoted to the liner and a curved arm lying outside of the proximate pan end, said cupped portions having cutouts for the straight arm of the link; a cover for said pan having the ends of same curved to match the curvature of the cupped ends, said ends of the cover having cutouts forming extensions of the cutouts of the cupped ends to permit an angular movement to the L-shaped link on its pivot of an angle of about 45, the curved arm and the curved surfaces of the cupped portions and the curved ends of the cover being cylindrical in shape and the radii of which lie in the axis of the pivot of the straight arm of the link; the end of the curved arm being pivotally connected to the proximate end of the proximate block of the upper row, the proximate end of the upper block having a cylindrically curved surface of a radius substantially equal to that of the curved arm of the link, said curved end having a cutout to accommodate said curved arm when the chain is fully retracted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

